Twins tighten race in Central

September 10, 2006

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) -- Boof Bonser brought the Minnesota Twins a little bit closer in the tightening three-team race in the AL Central. Bonser struck out five and allowed only five hits in seven strong innings, leading the Twins to a 2-1 victory over the Detroit Tigers that closed the gap in the standings to three games. Torii Hunter had Minnesota's only RBI, a second-inning single, against Tigers starter Nate Robertson (12-12). But Bonser (5-5), the stone-faced, right-handed rookie with the peculiar first name, was good enough to give the Twins their second straight win over the division leaders. The Chicago White Sox, who began the day a half-game behind them in the wild-card race, hosted the Cleveland Indians later Saturday night. Pat Neshek struck out two in a perfect eighth, and Joe Nathan handled the ninth for his 30th save. With Minnesota's All-Star ace, Johan Santana, waiting to pitch on Sunday, this game became more critical for Detroit. Santana hasn't lost since in the second half and hasn't been beaten at the Metrodome in his last 21 starts. Michael Cuddyer started the second inning with a single, and as he ran by Detroit second baseman Omar Infante on a chop hit by Justin Morneau, Infante misplayed the ball and let it roll into right field. Cuddyer came all the way around to score, and Morneau took third on Magglio Ordonez's high throw home. Then Hunter smacked a 2-2 pitch into left to drive in Cuddyer. Robertson was hit in the midsection by a hard line drive from Mike Redmond, but recovered in time to throw Redmond out at first to end the third. The left-hander didn't let that affect him the rest of the game, either, keeping the Twins down and giving the Tigers numerous chances to move ahead. The bases were loaded in the fifth on a pair of singles and a walk, setting up a two-out situation for Cuddyer. But after getting brushed back on a 1-2 fastball at his shoulder and falling down when he lost his balance, Cuddyer grounded out to second to end the inning. Robertson pitched seven innings, allowing six hits, two runs, one earned, and one walk while striking out five. Bonser had to work out of plenty of sticky spots, with two runners on in the first and the bases loaded in the third. He didn't let anyone score, though, until the fourth when Sean Casey drew a leadoff walk, took third on Brandon Inge's double and scored on a groundout to first by Infante, cutting the Minnesota lead to 2-1. He hasn't been dominant by any means, but Bonser, one of three rookies currently in the rotation, has done an impressive job since being called up a month ago for the third time this season. In his last five starts, Bonser is 3-1 with 10 runs allowed in 30 2/3 innings.